Lefty conversion and laminate basses

[theshadow2001]

So I was making enquiries about lefty basses. I am aware of all the modifications needed to do a proper lefty conversion i.e. sound post, bass bar, nut, bridge, finger board etc. However I get the feeling from talking to some luthiers that on a laminated bass the bass bar modification wouldn't be that important or such a high priority compared to one with a carved top or fully carved. Is this because of the laminates more durable construction (i.e. the structural implications of not having the bass bar on the other side isn't as important as a carved or hybrid bass)

Or would it be seen that since most laminates aren't the highest quality instruments out there that it just wouldn't be worth while going to that extra trouble.

I know that with the bass bar positioned incorrectly it would affect the sound reproduction as well. But again with a laminate bass the sound quality wouldn't be as good (generally) compared to carved or hybrid again making the extra troublesome costly work sort of pointless.

As an analogy(heh heh try saying that ten times really fast ) , would this particular mod on a laminate be akin to putting the worlds finest pickup into a POS chinese bass that was bought for $100 on e-bay.

I'm just wondering what those of you more in the know think about it

[theshadow2001]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

Why is the Bass Bar under the Low (E) string and the Sound Post undere the High (G) string? Take a Bass, any Bass and reverse the strings. Maybe it is this way because the Low notes need to be spread thru the wood and the Highs to be projected? Also, is the string tension even from high to low on all strings?

I don't think it's a strength issue of the Top alone. I thing it's how a string instrument works. Builders in the past have experimented with 2 Bass bars and 2 Sound posts and all sorts of contraptions only to come back to Basics like d'Salo and Amati set over 400 years ago.

Want your lefty to sound as good as it can righty? Do it the right way. Want to play in an Orchestra some day? Learn to play righty. Then you will have a 99.999999999% better chance of getting quality Bass as you work your way up.

So would you say that regardless of what kind of instrument, it would be worth while to do the convertion properly? I suppose what Im really wondering does the benefit equal the cost time and labour?

And I have no intentions of playing in an orchestra. Orchestral music doesn't do much for me. Plus they aren't exactly as common as walmarts here.